HP (Hewlett-Packard) 50g Calculator User Manual


 
Page 9-2
where θ is the angle between the two vectors. The cross product produces a
vector A×B whose magnitude is |A×B| = |A||B|sin(θ), and its direction is
given by the so-called right-hand rule (consult a textbook on Math, Physics, or
Mechanics to see this operation illustrated graphically). In terms of Cartesian
components, AB = A
x
B
x
+A
y
B
y
+A
z
B
z
, and A×B = [A
y
B
z
-A
z
B
y
,A
z
B
x
-A
x
B
z
,A
x
B
y
-
A
y
B
x
]. The angle between two vectors can be found from the definition of the
dot product as cos(θ) = AB/|A||B|= e
A
e
B
. Thus, if two vectors A and B
are perpendicular (θ = 90
0
= π/2
rad
), AB = 0.
Entering vectors
In the calculator, vectors are represented by a sequence of numbers enclosed
between brackets, and typically entered as row vectors. The brackets are
generated in the calculator by the keystroke combination „Ô , associated
with the * key. The following are examples of vectors in the calculator:
[3.5, 2.2, -1.3, 5.6, 2.3] A general row vector
[1.5,-2.2] A 2-D vector
[3,-1,2] A 3-D vector
['t','t^2','SIN(t)'] A vector of algebraics
Typing vectors in the stack
With the calculator in ALG mode, a vector is typed into the stack by opening a
set of brackets („Ô) and typing the components or elements of the vector
separated by commas (‚í). The screen shots below show the entering of
a numerical vector followed by an algebraic vector. The figure to the left shows
the algebraic vector before pressing . The figure to the right shows the
calculator’s screen after entering the algebraic vector:
In RPN mode, you can enter a vector in the stack by opening a set of brackets
and typing the vector components or elements separated by either commas
(‚í) or spaces (#). Notice that after pressing ` , in either mode,
the calculator shows the vector elements separated by spaces.